“What, already?” Natasatch said.
“It’s possible that NiVom and Imfamnia’s plans are well-advanced. Maybe if they learn he’s suspicious of them, they’ll forget whatever it is they’re planning.”
“While you’re doing that, I think I’ll invite Imfamnia over for a visit.”
AuRon only knew one or two ways into the Lavadome, and a windy tunnel out of it. Long flights didn’t fatigue him the way they did other dragons, so he made the trip in two days.
He wondered how much Natasatch would tell Imfamnia. Well, it didn’t matter. Not even NiVom and Imfamnia would be able to put their plans into effect, with the head start he had.
He flew straight to the Imperial Rock and spoke to NoSohoth about getting a private audience with his brother on an urgent and secret matter.
The Copper dismissed his Griffaran Guard to wait outside. “Our Protector of Dairuss never was one to start a fight.”
“I have finished my share,” AuRon said.
“Follow me. It’s late, and I know a place we can talk.”
He led AuRon down a series of ramps and passages going down through the heart of Imperial Rock.
They ended up in a big, sand-floored cavern. AuRon wondered if it was an arena or a theater of some kind.
The acoustics in this cavern were strange. The sand soaked up the sound of their clawfalls and tail-drags. But when they spoke, the words echoed off the empty shelves and rough cavern roof.
The Copper found a broken metal scale-file on the lowest shelf of the arena, sniffed it for a moment, then swallowed it whole.
“The Tyr doesn’t rate better metals for his gold gizzard?”
The Copper let out an acidic belch. “A little iron only makes the rest of the ores more effective.”
“Our father said something about that.”
“Your father, you mean,” the Copper said. “He never sought that title in my case.”
“Well, we’re somewhere where we can spot listeners ten dragonlengths away. What do you have to tell me in private?”
Choosing his words carefully, AuRon relayed his suspicions about the treachery brewing in Ghioz.
“What’s your course, AuRon? Are you trying to divide me from NiVom?”
“I’m telling you what I saw and heard. You’ll have to sort out what it means.”
“You know what this room is?”
“Some sort of theater or debating hall—that’s what I was told as we passed it the first time I came here.”
“I killed the Dragonblade here, in a fair fight.”
AuRon had heard something of it, but he still warmed toward his brother. “You have my thanks. Our world’s a better place for it.”
“If you’re plotting against me or mine, I’ll kill you. Here. Under the gaze of your offspring.”
AuRon’s firebladder pulsed. “I said I’ve told you the truth. I don’t know what it means. I can’t say what sort of dragon NiVom is, except that he’s quite intelligent—maybe the most intelligent creature I’ve ever met. But for all his acuteness, I think his mate’s the more dangerous.”
The Copper’s scale resettled itself. His good eye looked away, into a middle distance.
“What did you come all this way to tell me face-to-face?”
AuRon glanced around the arena. Strange how the habits of a conspirator and an informer were identical. “Your Protectors in Ghioz, Imfamnia and NiVom. I’m sure they’re plotting against you. They’re breeding—creatures. You’ve seen some of them in their attack on Uldam, but I think there are others. Strange bats or gargoyles. I’ve heard them speak of a change, a new Tyr being put in.”
The Copper put a sit to a recent wound in his neck.
“I’m curious about this move of yours, AuRon.”
“Move? You speak as though my actions are part of a strategy. I am not directing forces for a battle. Your ‘Protectors’ in Ghioz are your enemies. It’s not just the greater glory of your Empire or Grand Alliance or whatever it’s called, but they’re plotting something.”
“You take your responsibilities as a Protector of the Grand Alliance seriously.”
AuRon felt better, having unburdened himself. He owed his brother nothing, but it was still the right thing to do. “I take the fate of dragons seriously. There are few enough dragons left in the world. I’m not interested in there being even fewer, which is what will happen if there’s a war between us.”
There was the noise of dragon voices outside. NoSohoth said in a booming voice, “The Tyr is in private audience. He must not be—”
An aged female’s voice: “Oh, none of your delays, you old puff-toad. I will speak to the Tyr. His Queen is guilty of murder and he must answer for the murder of my daughter!”
How had NiVom and Imfamnia moved so quickly? No one could have outflown him.
A group of dragons entered. AuRon didn’t know the Copper’s retinue well enough to say who was who, but it was led by an aging, but still formidable, female.
“What’s all this, Ibidio?” the Copper asked.
“It’s about your mate, my Tyr. We believe she is guilty of murder.”
Chapter 13
The Tyr ordered everyone up to the Audience Chamber. Anyone might wander into the old dueling pit, and he did not want old bloodstains revealed to just anyone.
The procession of dragons trooped all the way back up in anxious silence. The Copper was grateful for the delay. It gave him time to think. His first instinct, to declare Ibidio a mad dragon, would not go over well in the Lavadome. Ibidio had many friends, both open and in secret.
The Copper faced a formidable assembly. Ibidio might be described as the head of the “First Line” of the Lavadome, the principal root of the Imperial Line. Her experience dated back to the glory days of the establishment of the first Tyr, Fe-Hazathant, after the civil wars were over. With her were his descendants, the twins SiHazathant and Regalia, who shared an egg and a yolk sac before hatching.
LaDibar stood a little behind and in between. The seriousness of the occasion forced him to keep his tailtip from exploring various orifices for once. A few other dragons of the Imperial Line stood safely at the rear of the party.
Only NoSohoth stood a little apart, as if declaring his neutrality and waiting to see his Tyr’s reaction.
“Yes, we believe Queen Nilrasha had her murdered,” Ibidio said. “If you loved Halaflora, as I’m sure you did, you would want to see justice done.”
He had loved Halaflora. Despite her weak constitution, she’d devoted herself to being a proper mate when they lived and worked as upholders in Anaea. After the initial embarrassment of a shared life and even having a mate had faded, he’d found himself looking forward to the time they spent together, and missing her if his duties called him away for more than a day. Beyond that, he was deeply grateful to her. She’d been the first of his kind ever to be, well, proud of him and eager for his company.
Murder!
In the Lavadome there had always been two standards for killing another dragon. One was in a duel—an activity participated in more by males than females—a practice the Copper had tried to end, as the richer and more powerful dragons could hire professional Skotl duelists and thus always win disputes at little risk to themselves. There were few enough dragons and more than enough enemies without killing each other off over insults and livestock theft. But even now, duelists were frequently pardoned if the fight was fair and the grievance just, otherwise. Especially in the case of professional duelists, they were exiled to the surface—though not out of the Grand Alliance, so several still found useful employment aiding a Protector.
The other was deliberate murder. The Griffaran Guard saw to it that murderers were torn to pieces. In the case of a dragon murdering a hatchling, the bodies weren’t even burned, they were fed to the Tyr’s Demen Legion.
“We even considered charging her with the murder of a hatchling,” Ibidio said. “Halaflora was so sickly she might as well have been freshly hatched, and s
he believed herself with a bellyful of eggs when she was killed.”
“I don’t accept her cause of death as murder. She choked. Nilrasha tried to save her. I was there, I saw her eating enthusiastically when she should have been downing her usual tiny bites. You might as well charge me with killing her as well, for she choked.”
“We have witnesses who say otherwise.”
“I see your goal, Ibidio. You’d like me to give up my position as Tyr. You’re using my mate as leverage.”
“I always thought of you as an interim Tyr until others, more worthy, grew to dragonhood,” Ibidio said. “You’ve wrought great changes, my Tyr, but there will be consequences even the wisest of us cannot foresee. You’ve put dragonkind in jeopardy with this Grand Alliance. My mate and his father believed it best to deal with humans in secret, or by proxy, or under carefully selected circumstances such as the men of Anaea. Now you’ve bonded us to the Hypatians, a corrupt and fallen branch of mankind who’ve had its day and should have been washed away long ago by the tides of history.”
Behind him as always, Shadowcatch began to grind his teeth. It’s a wonder they’re not dulled down to nubs, the Copper thought.
Ibidio’s response sounded carefully prepared. He had wanted to throw Ibidio off the track with a counteraccusation, but though Ibidio was well into maturity, she evidently still had a sharp wit. Perhaps he should keep to the subject at hand.
“We know you cared for your mate. There’s no thought that you have been involved,” Ibidio said. “But as her mother and therefore the most aggrieved, I and the Imperial Line want justice for Halaflora.”
The Copper drew himself up. He realized that in only having three sound limbs he’d never be as impressive as others, but he could still raise his neck high. “Had she been murdered, I would have seen to it, and no witnesses or traditions or circumstances would have availed the guilty party. But it was an accident. She believed herself with eggs and ate ravenously. But her throat muscles weren’t up to her desire—she choked to death. I felt the bone in her throat myself.”
“Perhaps it was stuffed down there,” LaDibar said.
“Shadowcatch, our Ankelene has formed a theory. I would like to see it tested. Tear down one of those banners, break its staff and see if you can stuff it down his throat.”
Shadowcatch reared up, removed a tattered banner from its bracket. One of the Griffaran Guard cackled in excitement.
“My Tyr, I meant no offense,” LaDibar said.
“Accusing my mate of murder will have that effect on me, LaDibar.”
“Threats won’t save Nilrasha, my Tyr,” Ibidio said. “I demand that my witnesses be heard and judged.”
“Produce them.”
“I’d rather spare you and Nilrasha the agony and embarrassment. I offer an alternative,” Ibidio said. “Have Nilrasha fully resign the office of Queen. She may remain where she is, officially in exile. She’s unable to carry out her duties, anyway; your sister’s attempts to be Queen-Consort prove it.”
Why would Ibidio settle for Nilrasha resigning as Queen?
“Produce your witnesses,” the Copper said. “I should like to hear what they say.”
“You’re in no position to judge the believability of our witnesses.”
“But I’m Tyr. I’ve always determined—”
“He should step aside,” Wistala said. “Let another question your witnesses. In Hypatia, there are men who do nothing but hear evidence and decide cases.”
“Human customs need hardly concern us,” NoSohoth said.
“Very well, if you object to me questioning them, perhaps NoSohoth would be willing to perform,” the Copper said.
They settled on a date to hear the witnesses two days hence in the old dueling pit, now being called the Voicehall. The name for it came from the new tradition that the Tyr listened to the concerns of any dragon and held questionings of important messengers and decided the fates of those accused of crimes.
While finishing perfectly ordinary business the next day, NoSohoth lingered in the passageway leading off from the Audience Chamber.
“Are you concerned about the questioning, NoSohoth?” the Copper asked.
NoSohoth raised a wing to shield their words from the curtains dividing the passageway from the Audience Chamber. “My Tyr, I would like nothing better than to see this whole matter go away. You have more important affairs to oversee. I hate to see my Tyr enmeshed in this sort of scab picking.”
“I’ll rely on you to judge fairly.”
“My Tyr, if you would allow a faithful old servant to speak his mind for a moment.”
“Yes?”
“Ever since your mate was injured, you’ve been away a great deal, and these old ears, tongue, and nostrils have been filled with managing problems as best as I can until you return to validate my decisions.”
“I’m sorry, NoSohoth. You’re absolutely right.”
“I’ve been serving the Imperial Line through all four Tyrs and before, when I stood guard atop the Imperial Rock during the civil wars. I am weary and need a rest, my Tyr. I was thinking of retiring to become a Protector and spend my remaining seasons sunning myself in the Upper World.”
“Oh, of course. I should hate to lose your services. Perhaps Anaea, it’s sunny there and there’s only two busy times, at planting and harvest.”
“I was thinking Hypatia, my Tyr. I understand the climate in the capital city is very mild.”
Hypatia! The Copper wondered just how tired old NoSohoth was. He’d been skimming a percentage of much of the trade that came into the Lavadome for ages. His hoard must be fabulous, wherever it lay.
“Hypatia. That’s not exactly a Protectorate to while away one’s time in the sun, you know. You’ll be at the heart of the Grand Alliance.”
“And it is in the keeping of your friend NoFhyriticus. A dragon has a rare sense and even temper, I will admit.”
“You have both those qualities as well, old friend.”
“My Tyr flatters me.”
The Copper could see the reason behind NoSohoth’s desire. A Protectorate as rich as Hypatia—he could fill his resort’s bathing pools with silver if he wished.
“Don’t speak of flattery. You deserve it.”
“I’ll train a replacement, of course. I was thinking, perhaps, of devoting myself to selecting and training one to take my place after the hearing of this accusation of murder.”
“You doubt their evidence?”
“I’ve only heard rumors, my Tyr, but it strains credulity.”
“You deserve a reward for all your services past.”
“And future, my Tyr.”
“Yes, and future. When we’ve put this ugly matter behind us you may begin your preparations for becoming a Protector.”
“Of Hypatia, my Tyr?”
“If that is what you want, that is what you shall have,” the Copper said.
He wondered if he’d just outbid Ibidio in this contest for justice.
It was impossible to sleep, impossible to think—the Copper wanted to fly to Nilrasha and tell her about the predicament, but the questioning would be over by the time he could return. He lurked in his chambers and bath, like SiMevolant of old, brooding. No wonder he was so dour and sought refuge in the aroma of sweat emanating from plump human females.
Could he send a swift messenger to Nilrasha, seeking her advice? No, she’d tell him to sacrifice her to preserve his status as Tyr.
It seemed unfair that she couldn’t answer the charges with her own voice.
The arrangement with NoSohoth was cold comfort. Too much could go wrong. It may all depend on the digestion of the audience when the witnesses were heard. He’d have to see about sending some bullocks from the Tyr’s herd around to the principal hills.
A thrall announced that his Queen-Consort wished to see him.
“Very well, show her in.”
He had no interest in listening to Wistala’s latest complaint about one of the Protectors taking t
oo many cattle or making a meal out of a bronze statue.
His sister entered, followed by Rayg. What was she doing with him?
“My brother,” Wistala greeted him. “DharSii has returned. He’s trying to learn more about the crystal statue taken from the Red Queen.”
His bats had told him that DharSii was in the Lavadome, mostly visiting with Wistala. As for that crystal…Rayg had been experimenting with the crystal for years. For all its size, it didn’t seem to do much. He’d done much better with the smaller jewel AuRon had brought into the Lavadome when he delivered the Queen’s ultimatum.
DharSii wanted permission from him to descend with Rayg into the depths of the Lavadome, Wistala explained.
“Unless he’s interested in a show of lights, I don’t understand what he thinks he can learn.”
“I’ve been studying what happens to the lights when we try to interact with the crystal,” Rayg said.
Interact? What, could a piece of stone live?
He needed to get his mind off of the upcoming questioning. “I’ll come. I’d like to see what DharSii is up to with my own eyes. I hope the great dandy doesn’t mind getting his sii dirty.”
“The Ankelenes are slowly coming around to my opinion,” Rayg said.
“What’s that?”
“It’s easier if I show you.”
They met DharSii outside, and the Copper waved off the usual formalities, though he did offer the visitor a mouthful of coin. DharSii declined.
“I’d rather keep my thoughts clear.”
They descended through Imperial Rock, down into the livestock pens and storage rooms, and finally to slippery chutes coated with waste from dragon, thrall, and livestock. The Copper hadn’t been this low in the Lavadome since learning the few passageways into the depths during his time in the Drakwatch. The only things that thrived in this noisome mess were worms and brightly glowing cave-moss. Thick masses of dwarfsbeard hung from the ceiling like hedges.
Rayg led them through a series of dripping passages. Unpleasant waste pooled and reeked.
They passed along a natural watercourse that churned the muck out of the Lavadome and down. Here they picked up a cleaner trail again.
[Age of Fire 05] - Dragon Rule Page 17
